“(T)his unilateral, mid-season 50% wage hike will likely result in Zirkle declining to harvest significant amounts of blueberries, which will put hundreds of farmworkers out of work, and will likely eliminate hand-picking from its 2020 production,” the company said in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also alleges the government approved the original 50-cent pay rate through Zirkle’s H-2A application.

While the wage increase is temporarily postponed, the Yakima Herald reports the company must deposit the difference between the original and new wages and taxes in a trust account. The company also is required to secure names and permanent addresses of employees in case the wage hike is upheld.

Christina Herrick is the Senior Editor of American Fruit Grower magazine and Western Fruit Grower magazine, published by Meister Media Worldwide. See all author stories here.